Connect with the Pūharakekenui catchment through
the imaginations of its Creative Communicators

Events

Saturday, July 26th – Sunday, July 27th 10am-5pm

Baird Gallery, Rangi Ruru Girls' School,
59 Hewitts Road, Merivale

Opening Reception: Friday, July 25th, 5-7pm
Artist Talk: Saturday, July 26th, 3-4pm (Baird Gallery)

as a hawk circles
an exhibition by Melissa Macleod

Melissa Macleod presents as a hawk circles, a body of new work developed during her time as a Creative Communicator for the Styx Living Laboratory Trust’s Pūharakekenui Freshwater Improvement Project.

Over six months, Melissa immersed herself in the Pūharakekenui Styx River catchment, researching, exploring, gathering information, and working in parallel with those who care for and are deeply invested in this urban river system.

The project has culminated in as a hawk circles, an immersive installation, supported by underwater photographic work. It explores the diverse colours of the river’s water, bringing together a spectrum of tones that signify 28 distinct sites: from the river's source to the sea. While treating water as a precious, sculptural material, the project highlights the values placed on this vital awa, speaking to the very real environmental fragility of this catchment.

More information about Melissa and her art can be found in the Meet the Artists section below.


FULLY BOOKED
Pūharakekenui Pottery Workshop
with Greg Yee

Saturday 12 July 2-5pm & Saturday 9 August 2-4pm

Hand build a glazed clay vessel inspired by a local river catchment with current Styx Pūharakekenui Creative Communicator, ceramic artist, Greg Yee. Over two free, fun, and accessible sessions, Greg will help participants make and decorate a pinch pot that incorporates ideas from the nature of the Styx Pūharakekenui. Participants just need to be aged 12 or over and able to make a firm commitment to the two sessions at the Christine Heremaia Field Centre (Lower Styx Road) as places are limited. To ensure diverse participation there is a limit of 2 people per booking.

 

Greg Yee has a Bachelor of Design, majoring in sculpture from Ara Institute of Technology, as well as a Bachelor of Fine Arts with First Class Honours and a Master of Fine Arts with Distinction, both from Canterbury University. As Creative Communicator, Greg is making a body of sculptural site responsive domestic ware ceramics that incorporate materials and ideas that reflect the unique make-up of the Styx Pūharakekenui river catchment and our connections to it.

Meet the Artists

Every year since 2022, three artists spend 12 weeks exploring the Pūharakekenui Styx River catchment, interpreting aspects of the catchment in a creative way. Read on to discover more about the Pūharakekenui through the eyes and senses of our Creative Communicators.

Creative Communicator Projects

Jo

Moana

More about Moana’s project coming soon…